Reproduction of music in synchronism with moving pictures



Jim 30, 1925.

1,544,427 -c. BLUM REPRODUCTION OF LESSIC I" H ,iid-duflgrsiiif's. .JITIE MOVING PICTURES UriginaI Filed Jan. 1923 4 s Sheet s-Sheet 1 [n warrior:

June 30, 1925. 1,544,427

c. R. mum REPRODUCTION OF musrc m sm-m'rmcmsm K' 'iI'Z'H MOVING PICTURES Original Filed Jan. 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [72 wen for azrmokrzzzam June 30, 1925.

c. R. BLUM REPRODUCTION OF MUSIC IN SYNGIIRONISM WITH MQVING PICTURES- -Original Filed Janus, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet- 3 A camvokrmzum .llfomey.

"the usual notes and in uninterru 1 upon the band 'pla or or" conductor sea-.1 June so, 1925."

A UNITED STATES.

cant nonnnr Bron, maonuonon ornvsrc Original application filed January 8,

or nnnmn-scnonnnnne, ennmanv. m simcnnonrsu wrrn movrive rrc'runns.

19%, Serial ll'o. 611,190. Divided and this application filed April 20, 19$; Serial 1T0. 24,839.

To all whomit concern:

Be it known that I, CARL Roannr Bum, a citizen of Germany, residing at Berlin- Schoneberg, Germany, have invented certain 5 new anduseful Improvements in Reproduc tion of Music in synchronism with Moving Pictures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the reproduction of pieces of music by any desired means,

such as the human voice, musical instruments, piano players, gramophones, phonographs, and the like in synchronism with the moving pictures reproduced by.a cine- -m-atograph, and it is an object of m inven- ,tion to warrant a reproduction in t at par- ,ticular rhythm which is peculiar to each individual piece of music. Only military and other marches and man dances have a uniform rhythm and all times are reproduced in the same measure. With all other pieces of music, however, the tempo changes more or less often, frequently in the single consecutive times, and even within single bars. This very change of tempo is a material characteristic feature of such pieces of music. Their re roduction corresponds to the intention of t e composer perfectly only if not only all tones but also all rhythmic variations are reproducedin the mostexact manner.

To warrant a rhythmically exact reproduction of all sung and played pieces of music in synchronism with the moving pictures reproduced by a cinematograph, I

make use of the following ineans:

= 1. A band which is unwound from one reel and wound upon another reel and has the music piece written or printed upon it in ted succession, in such a manner that the. istance be- 1 tween thenotes of each. single bar and the length of the s ace occupied by each bar with relation to the speed with which the bandis moved when a produced) correspondsto the which duced.

2. A statio and whic speed with these 'or bars are to be repromark past which the band indicates to the singer or the proper moment at oduced.

which each note or bar is to be repr the reel '8. Means to wind the band upon record more particular .1s made or a recorded pieceof music is reand to unwind it from the same, and to make it travel past the stationary mark either with uniform or with varying speed, but always with just that speed with which the band had been traveling when the record was made.

4. Means to couple the band or its operating mechanism with a cinematographic apparatus for taking pictures or for reproducing them, and with means for obtaining synchronous running of the music band and the film.

In the drawings affixed to this specification and forming part thereof several devices embodying my invention are illustrated diagrammaticaly by way of example. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the noteband itself with its two reels.

Fig. 2 is a like view of the means for causing the band to travel past the stationary mark, and of means for adjusting the traveling speed of the band in conformity with the general character of the piece of music to be played.

Figs. 3 to 10 are illustrations of means for electrically coupling the note band mechanism with a cinematographic apparatus," in such a manner that the note band and the film move synchronously,

Fig. 3 being an elevation, the of the box being left away,

Fig. 4 a plan of the parts located in the upper compartment of the casing, the lid being left away,

Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line IX-IX in Fig. 3' showing the parts located in the lower compartment of the casin front wall Fig. 6 is a perspect've view of the evice middle portion band has one or several stafis d th single bars of which are not of equal length nor of am desired length, but whose le th is determined by the tempo which they are to be played. Thus, of several bars or piece of music W. to be pla7 with ac (accelcrand occupic l ill 1 during "1' +u.. '1 "l iusciiolng 01. We no es, L lad is wane mailing the record, than if the hand is uniformly moved past the marlr. This is due to the increase or" the diameter of the reel, while the band is wound on it, consequence of which the speed of the band permanently increases. It is,'therefore, preferable, instead of pulling the band, to employ a uniformly rotating device which engages the band between the reels, as shown for instance in Figs. 3-9.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 a clock work 9 can be wound up by means of a crank 7 and bevel wheels 8; the clock work rotates by means of gear wheels 10 and 11, the spindle '12 or the reel 2 in the direction of the arrow. The reel 2 winds up the band 1 which comes from the reel 3 and passes over guide rolls 13, as well as through the frame 6.

The singer, player, or orchestra-leader, sitting in front of theapparatus, has to ay attention solely to the moment at which the various consecutive notes arrive at the mark 5 when the respective note is to be produced. The general tempo of the respective piece or music is adjusted in correspondence with the tempo regulations prescribed in the given case and followed either with the aid of Miilzels metronome or of some other time beating device, the adjustment being effected by means of a regulating device 14 (Fig. 2) which cooperates'with a. scale 15 and influences the speed of the band, ,for instance by braking or by changing the ratio of gearing.

Figs. 3 to 10 relate to modifications in which the traveling note band is combined and electrically coupled with cinematographic apparatus in such a manner that the film on the stage or other room and the note band in the auditorium more at the same speed although being distanced apart from each other.

Irrespective of whether a piece of music is to be rccordedor to be reproduced, the band 1 is actuated indirectly by the film mechanism which in its turn is operated, as usual, either by hand or by means of a motor. The crank (Fig. 6) rotates the shutter spindle 21 to which is atlixcd a pinion rotating the spindle 26 of a rotary U --.,J. Us 9 ,1 K}? sw uch 21 b. means or a gealing 2o, 21, 2.). "an

Lil a it to it an arm 28 sliding commut the rotation of 1 across contacts Hips of four in f corners of a quadra and being conda f tivcly connected will. each other so that. i. one contact of group of four is toucncc, also the oth r three or that group are thrown into circuit. The contacts of the rot switch are connected by a four-wire caile with a. small magneto-electric machine 34 which drives the actuating device of the note band 1.

This machine (Figs. 3, 5 and 10) consists of a spider 36 allixed to aspindlc and capable of turning in the same direction above twelve magnet coils 37 arranged 111 a circle around said spindle. Rotation in the opposite direction is prevented by a ratchet wheel 38 secured to the spindle 35 and cooperating with a pawl 39. Groups of four coils 37 also located in the corners of a quadrangle are conductively connected with each other and with. a group of four contacts of the circular switch 27. lVhen the brush 29 touches a contact, the magnets connected with the respective group of contacts and forming part of the machine 34 are encited and attract the arms 36. On the continued rotation of the brush 28 the next following group of contacts is thrown into circuit and in its turn throws in the next following iindle has 2 group of magnets which now attracts the spider 36. The rotation of the brush lever therefore results in the excitation of the magnet groups, attraction of the spider and rotation of the spindle 35 in synchronism with the spindle 26 of the switch 27 and in the same direction and with the same speed. The note band 1 and the film are therefore fed along in dependence upon the ratio of gearing of the intercalatcd co -Wheel gear, either with exactly the same speed or with an exactly proportionate one, but always 1n exact synchronism. If the ratio of gearing is suitablychosen, the note band may, for instance, be moved with but one tenth of the meters may thus be accompanied with a note band of 10 meters.

When reproducing, the reel 41, upon which the film is wound, is rotated by the electro-motor 43 which is connected by a I ratus the note band permits of taking the wire 44 with a rheostat 45 located at the note band apparatus and permitting of regulating from a distance the number of revolutions of the motor and, in connection therewith, the adjustment of the desired velocity of the note band by way of the film driving means. The' player of the instrument 46 shown in Fig. 6 observes with the aid of a hand 48 in front of a scale 47 whether the basic tempo at which the pictures were taken is kept up during their reproduction and, in connection therewith, also during the travel of the notesband, the proper tempo being kept up with the aid of the rheostat. Inversely, the film drive ma be made dependent upon the musicban or upon the driving gear thereof in that this gear transmits the motion of the note band to the film by electrical or pneumatic or mechanical means.

It is, 'howeve film and the In one place and to let also pomible to make the ic band run ofl' jointly .in the conductor standing near the cinematogra hic apparatus indicate the rhythm for t e taking of the pictures correspondingto the indications or regulations of the note band. Such a combination is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 11 where the upper part of the casing encloses the note band 61 which has a middle line of perforations coo erating with a coggled drum 62 operate mec anism of the cinematographic apparatus housed in the lower part 63 of the casing,

- so that the conductor watching the note band through a window conducts the orchestra as well as the film actors.

The length of the note band is preferably reduced in a certain definite proportion (for instance 1:10) so'that each meter of the band P y rs.

corresponds to 10 meters of film, there being then provided a corresponding transmission gearing between the two driving mechamsms.

The note band and the devices operating in conformity with this invention permit of fulfilling many different purposes,

The note band renders valuable srvices as a means for teaching music in that it enables the scholar, as well as the instructor or the conductor, to study and reproduce music pieces in exact conformity to the rhythmic ..1nstruct;1on s of the composer. connect on with automatic music apparatus,

Besides, in

such as for instance gramophones or piano the 'note band renders possible the cooperation of. singers or of instrument s nc'hronism with the players in perfect music the respective tempo of the piece 0 explosions,

by the driving mechanism for moving said 7 Sad apparatus, of an apertured frame, a

apparatus is producing, the singers or musicians readin the accompanying music and reproducing lt b y means of the notes traveling past the mark at the rhythm of the respective music-producing apparatus.

In connection with cinematographicapparhythm are reproduced also in exact syn-' chronism with the rhythm. On the other hand, the note'band may be prepared also according to the rhythm of the finished film and will then warrant exact synchronism of the pictures with'the music during the reproduction. The note band may also replace the prompter.

If the note band is provided with contacts, it may control devices (gramophones or the like) which at certain parts of the music or.

certain pictures prod'uce noises, such as whistles, street noise, and the like, corresponding to the'respective scenery.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction or operation described and illustrated in the drawings, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the or at art. This application is a divisionof application Serial No. 61I,199, filed Jan. 6, 1923.

I claim 1-- graphic apparatus and a photographic film, of a note band notes spaced between the consecutive ars 1. The combination with a. cinematoprovided with a plurality of thereof to visually indicate the variations in rhythm a motor of sounds associated withsaid film,

for moving said band past a fixed point, and a commutator switch continuously operated by a moving part of said apparatus and controlling said motor.

2. The combination -with a cinemato graphic apparatus and a photographic film,-

band provided with a plurality of of a note notes spaced between the consecutive bars thereof to visually indicate the variations in rhythm of sounds associated with said film,

a motor for moving said band past a fixed point, a commutator switch oontinuiqusly operated by a moving part of said apparatus and controlling said motor, and meanslfor regulating the speed of said motor by variation in the current supplied thereto. The combination with a 'cinernatographic apparatus, a photographicfilm and film through mark extendingacross the aperture in said,

frame a note hand comprising a pin 'ality \J.L consecutive notes spaced apart in proportion to the variations of rhythm in piece of music, an electric motor for moving said band at uniform speed through said frame and past said-J mark, and a rotary switch, controlling the motor field and connected for continuous operation by said film mov ing mechanism and in circuit for causing said electric motor to transport said band in synchronism with said film.

a. The combination with a cinematographic apparatus and a photographic film, of a note band provided with a plurality of notes spacedto indicate variations in rhythm of sounds associated with said film, a motor for moving said hand past a fixed point, and

' a switch having an arm geared to a moving part of said apparatus and engaging a series of contacts in circuit with said motor for controlling the field thereof.

5. The combination with a cinematographic apparatus and a photographic film, of a note band provided with a plurality of notes spaced to indicate variations in rhythm of sounds associz ed with. said film, tro magnetic motor for moving said past a fixed point and having an armat with radiating arms, and a switch ha in arm actuated by a moving part of said ratus and ooopera with a grouped, r rality of contacts in circuit with the me or field controlling the radiating arms of said electro magnetic motor connected to more said band in syncl ronisni with the film.

6. The combination with a cinematographic apparatus and a photographic film, of a note band provided with a plurality of notes spaced to indicate variations in rhythm of sounds associated with said film, for moving said band past a fixed point, a switch arm geared to a rotating part of said apparatus and cooperating with an annular series of contacts, and circuit connections therefrom to simultaneously transmit current to a plurality of field contacts to control said motor;

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CARL ROBERT BLUM.

a motor 40 

